Legion of 'spies trying to steal Britain's secrets'

London: Spies from 20 foreign intelligence agencies, including Nato allies such as France and Germany, are attempting to steal Britain's most sensitive secrets, it has been revealed.

Russia and China have been identified as having the most active spy networks operating in Britain - with the number of Russian intelligence officers in London having not fallen since Soviet times - but it is understood that some European countries are also involved in espionage.

Details of the plots are disclosed in a government security document obtained by Sunday Telegraph that states that Britain is a "high priority espionage target" for 20 foreign intelligence agencies.

Security sources said the list of foreign agencies operating within Britain included Iran, Syria, North Korea and Serbia, as well as apparent allies from within the European Union, such as France and Germany.

The document, marked "restricted" and dated January 19, warns that spies are trying to steal secrets related to a wide range of industries. It was drawn up by Army intelligence officers at Whitehall and distributed to all government departments. It warns that it is too easy to "lose sight" of the threat from traditional espionage and become solely focused on attacks by Al Qaida.

It states: "Whilst our primary threat would seem to come from International Terrorism, it is important that we do not lose sight of another omnipresent threat. Espionage against UK interests continues to come from many quarters.

"In the past, espionage activity was typically directed towards obtaining political and military intelligence. In today's high-tech world, the intelligence requirements of a number of countries now include new communications technologies, IT, genetics, aviation, lasers, optics, electronics and many other fields. Intelligence services, therefore, are targeting commercial enterprises far more than in the past.

"The UK is a high priority espionage target and a number of countries are actively seeking UK information and material to advance their own, military, technological, political and economic programmes."

A Whitehall source said Russia used its large spy network in attempts to "further its own military and economic base".

"If a country can steal a piece of software which will save it seven years in research and development then it will do so without any hesitation," said the source.

"Russian agents will target anybody who they believe could be useful to them. They have been at it for centuries and they are simply not going to stop because the Cold War has ended."

Many senior figures in Britain's intelligence community are frustrated by the activities of Russian spies, who they say are detracting from the fight against Al Qaida and international terrorism.

Patrick Mercer, the chairman of the House of Commons counter-terrorist subcommittee, said the document served as a warning to Britain.